Page 22 - Seniorstoday March 2022 Issue
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phone - ear phones-charger (optional) arms wrist and both thighs) it feels like a
mix of cold, a little burning cum stinging
Emotionally sensation for just a few seconds and finally
keep the deep breathing exercises going tape your arm down to immobilize it for the
happy thoughts that ‘this too shall pass’ procedure. (mine was done through the arm)
force a smile, it automatically relaxes the Once you are hooked up, your stretcher is
body adjusted for the camera and you are all set.
carry some inspirational reading
if you have your phone, nothing like music TIPS
to soothe the soul. -Tell the nurse if your veins are fine before
inserting the intravenous (IV) infusion set,
What is an angiogram? make sure it is taped to the wrist name band
An angiogram is the injecting of a contrast (less tape on the skin the better) this way it
dye into the coronary artery to identify cannot be pulled or tugged accidentally.
blockages caused by plaque by taking -When moving from one stretcher to the
X-rays, pictures of the heart from various other, bend your knees, put pressure on
angles. your feet and lift your butt, it will help the
The entire procedure from start to finish staff slide you with ease.
takes about fifteen minutes. -Lay your arms flat beside you in a
You will be wheeled in on a stretcher and comfortable position, they will stay in this
transferred to the X-ray table and hooked locked position for a couple of hours, leave a
up to a heart monitor, and an intravenous gap between your arm and armpit and rest
(IV) infusion set on one arm, the butterfly your wrist on the table. It is very important
IV needle, a device used to gain access to the to take time to position yourself comfortably
vein to draw or inject multiple medication before they tape your arms down. A locked
through one access point. Here you will have shoulder is unnecessary added pain, that too
the glucose drip, painkillers or sedation excruciating pain.
injected through the (butterfly) winged The anesthetist will introduce herself
infusion set. and tell you what to expect and the cardiac
They then prepare two or three sites as surgeon will tell you what to expect too.
access points to the arteries by sterilization So you will be aware of all the hustle
and numbing of the sites, (usually the other and bustle around you, the moving of the
X-ray machine above you, and the odours
of hospital solutions and the professionals
chatting. You have the option of just
shutting your eyes, and zoning into a
meditative state of mind, put a smile on your
face, it actually reduces the tension, say a
prayer not for yourself but for the doctor, the
medical staff around you that they may act
in unison for the procedure, with precision
and perfection. Frankly, it’s really not your
business to be part of the nitty gritties of the
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